The long-awaited FindItHere.com NASCAR Whelen Late Model 200 will get cranked up Friday night at SoBoFireworks extravaganza to follow night of big-money races

SOUTH BOSTON, VA. — The night area race fans look forward to every season at South Boston Speedway has arrived. The annual Fourth of July holiday weekend racing action at America's Hometown Track is set for a special Friday night start.

South Boston Speedway will drop the green flag on the FindItHere.com NASCAR Late Model 200 Friday night at 7 p.m. The NASCAR Whelen All American Series racing program will feature three big money races and the ever-popular Fireworks Extravaganza.

The featured attraction of the night will be a 200-lap event for the region's best NASCAR Whelen All American Late Model Stock Car competitors. The winner of Friday night's featured race will pocket $5,000 and many of the nation's top Late Model Stock Car Division competitors are expected to be on hand.

Also scheduled as part of the FindItHere.com Late Model 200 are a 100-lap race for the Limited Sportsman Division and a 50-lap shootout for the competitors in the Budweiser Pure Stock Division.

Prior to the night of racing action, fans will be able to head trackside to meet their favorite competitors in a special Fan Appreciation Session. The Fireworks Extravaganza, which is always one of the best displays in the region, will begin at the close of racing action Friday night.

Advance tickets for the FindItHere.com Late Model 200 are priced at $15 for adults and can be purchased through 5 p.m. Thursday by contacting the speedway office. Adult tickets on the day of the race will be priced at $20.

The region's best NASCAR Whelen All American Late Model Stock Car competitors will attempt to slow down the momentum of Philip Morris, a three-time NASCAR Whelen All American Series national champion, when the FindItHere.com Late Model 200 gets cranked up Friday.

Morris has won two straight races and has motored to Victory Lane 11 times at America's Hometown Track in 2011. Earlier this season, Morris reeled off nine consecutive triumphs.

In addition to leading the chase for the South Boston Speedway championship in 2011, Morris is also currently atop the point standings in the battle for the 2011 NASCAR Whelen All American Series national championship.

Three other South Boston Speedway regulars are also among the top six in the current NASCAR Whelen All American Series national title standings. Lee Pulliam owns the third-place spot in the standings, while C.E. Falk is fourth and Frank Deiny Jr. is sixth.

Danny Willis, Jr. will carry a narrow two-point lead into the 100-lap Limited Sportsman Division race. Willis leads Brian Pembelton by the slim margin and will also have to keep his eyes on third-place Justin Snow, who is coming off a win in his last outing. Snow is also the division's defending champion.

Trey Crews leads the standings in the Budweiser Pure Stock Division, while Randy Hupp is second and Joe Allred is third. Allred is only nine points out of the second-place position.

Pit registration will begin at 11:00 p.m. on July 1. Practice for all divisions will be held from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and qualifying time trials will get underway at 4:00 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 3:30 p.m.

For more information, phone the speedway at 434-572-4947 or 1-877-440-1540.